16-1 How the Eaton Fire Destroyed a Tenant's Family Home and the Aftermath

by Sidney Betancourt

Sidney: Hello Zella. I know we’ve connected a lot in the past few years, but for the audience can you tell me more about yourself? Including where you grew up and how you ended up in California? 

Zella Knight: I was born in a town called Prentiss, Mississippi. My parents migrated in 1965 to California and moved to Altadena, CA. They purchased their forever home here and I am proud product of their legacy. I grew up in Altadena, including going to school here. The experience my family had during the Jim Crow era led me towards advocacy. Now I’m fighting for the rights of people with disabilities and for housing. I’ve been in the advocacy space for a lifetime, well over 40 years. 

Sidney: If you’re comfortable doing so, can you share your direct connection to the work of disaster recovery and response? 

Zella: My relationship with disaster relief and effort is through personal experience. Throughout my lifetime I have experienced earthquakes in California and as a product of the South I have been through tornadoes, floods, and other disasters. What really changed my perspective was on January 7, 2025 when the Eaton fire spread in Altadena, CA. It started in the mountainous areas and then moved into our flat populous lands. On January 9, 2025, it reached my childhood family home, burning it down to the ground. Much of the area I grew up in, including West Altadena, was disseminated by the fire. The fires also impacted the Pacific Palisades, where I once lived. The experience was devasting and I had to jump in feet first to navigate the services and resources that were needed. One of my family members was displaced. The family home was destroyed. My disabled brother lost everything he had. I had to navigate a very complicated FEMA system.

I connected with state and local federal officials to help my family get connected to as many resources as possible. I also utilized media to get the messaging out, not just for my family, but others who were impacted by the wildfire and other disasters that were going on. I learned a lot and leaned on the great Noah Patton and other NLIHC staff to get an understanding of what to do when I ran into challenges and barriers that prevented us from getting the necessary resources and support that we needed in the emergent situation.

Sidney: In the context of your community, can you share how tenants worked together to approach disaster response?

Zella: West Altadena contains a unique populace. Many of us migrated from Jim Crow South. For Black Altadenians, many of us are in seniorhood. We make up the majority of the elderly and disabled population in the area. We had to build up the capacity of the residents and tenants to address the aftermath of the disaster. First and foremost, we had to educate many in the community about prioritizing helping people with disabilities and elders. Unfortunately, many thought that there was a one size fits all approach to disaster relief and recovery efforts. Even something as small as communication, you had to educate folks on how to do that on an individual basis, but especially when trying to meet the needs of a disabled person. In my case, I had to educate people on the complexities I have, whether that be visually or cognitively. I needed those resources to facilitate effective two- way communication. I needed help to adapt to the new scenario I was placed in regarding the disaster.

My goal now is to ensure we have more inclusive preparation and communication methods and other support for disaster relief and recovery, so we can break the inequities we consistently run into.

Sidney: Going through this experience, what are some reforms you would like to see to disaster recovery and response at the federal and local levels?

Zella: That is a great question! We need to make sure disaster recovery and relief network at NLIHC is at the table and locally, to be the voice of those impacted. It is great to have a representative collect data, share data, and develop policy.

Also building a network and bridge with tenant and resident organizations. We must ensure there is education, outreach, communication, and understanding. Those impacted by disasters need to have a permanent seat at the policymaking table.

Most importantly, we need more resources. With the current climate and global warming, we know that disasters are becoming more prevalent and impacting more and more people in areas we never thought would be impacted.

Sidney: While we can acknowledge that the disaster recovery system is broken, what can tenants make sure to include in their disaster plan?

Zella: There must be a disaster plan individually, collectively, locally, and federally. This needs to be conveyed to everyone and needs to meet everyone’s individual needs. As a tenant, always be prepared. Always have a little emergency bag in the corner that has all your essential stuff. That way when a disaster comes, all you have to do is grab and go.

Prevention, intervention, and preparation are critical. Even having a block party centering on disaster preparedness is a great idea, not only to get to know your neighbors and community members, but also so you can lean on them during disaster times. You can create a collaborative effort to work together to address inequities during the disaster.

Sidney: How has your view on disaster and disaster recovery changed based on your own experience?

Zella: We have a long way to go. We’ve made long strides in creating systems, structures, resources, and supports. We have not done a great job in implementation, outreach, education, and communication. We have to focus on what the individual needs are. We have to do a better job at doing outreach to the disabled population and not leaving them behind. We cannot assume one size fits all.

Lastly, accountability, oversight, and monitoring are the key words here, so it is accessible to all. If we want to make sure these resources are maximized and do directly what they need to do, we have to do a better job at these three things. And it must be clear, specific, concise for all.

We must ensure that we have enough resources to meet the needs of everyone and to ensure we do not leave anyone behind.

Sidney: Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us, Zella!